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Apple Reaches Deal with New York City Stores Selling Counterfeit Apple Products

Thursday September 15, 2011 9:12 pm PDT by Eric Slivka

Reuters reports that Apple has reached a proposed settlement with two New York City retail stores accused of selling counterfeit Apple products. Under the terms of the deal, which must still be approved by the courts, the two stores would surrender all counterfeit products carrying the word "Apple" or any of the company's trademarks.

The proposed settlement, lodged in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday, would resolve a trademark-infringement lawsuit filed last July against Apple Story Inc and Fun Zone Inc, two stores in the Chinatown section of Flushing, Queens, that sell cases, headsets and other accessories for Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad and iPod. The two stores maintain they have not violated any Apple trademarks.

If U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto approves the settlement, the stores will have five days to turn over any counterfeit products in their inventories, as well as any products, labels, packaging, promotional materials and other items that bear any Apple trademarks, including the well-known image of an apple and proprietary phrases such as "iPod" and "iPad."

The owners of one of the stores, Apple Story, have also agreed to change the store's name and to remove an iPhone-shaped window display from the store.

Apple has been stepping up its efforts to combat unauthorized retail stores and the sale of counterfeit Apple products. The company has been focusing a significant amount of effort in China, where it is experiencing strong growth, but has reportedly been hampered in its efforts by uncooperative authorities in many cases.
[ 18 comments ]

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Shrink
Posted: 9 months ago
Those people in the outer boroughs - they might as well be in China. :D :rolleyes:
Rating: 5 Positives / 0 Negatives
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mcapanelli
Posted: 9 months ago

Those people in the outer boroughs - they might as well be in China. :D :rolleyes:

Ummmm, so what are you trying to say? lol I live in Whitestone, just outside of Flushing and man, they call it "Little Seoul" back in Korea. It does however have the BEST Asian food in all of NYC. I'm a little bummed about Apple Story having to change it's name. Stuff like that is part of what gives Main Street it's character for those of us that have a sense of humor. It's almost as good as the badly translated signs. Ever seen the one the says "Mental Jingles"? It's been 5 years and for the life of me I still don't know what they are. Just precious.
Rating: 4 Positives / 0 Negatives
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mrwonkers
Posted: 9 months ago
jibber-jabber
Rating: 2 Positives / 0 Negatives
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ScottishDuck
Posted: 9 months ago

And they are lucky to have a Japanese judge for this case. Couldn't get any better...


You do realise the Japanese and Chinese hate each other, right?
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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SockRolid
Posted: 9 months ago
I wonder who, exactly, thought that copying Apple products, then selling them in the US, would be a good idea.

Best to stop it now, before Samsung gets any (more) ideas...
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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ipader
Posted: 9 months ago
This thread made me hungry, so of course I had to take a drive to Flushing and eat. Went to the "Golden Mall" which has about 10 different small booths selling food. I ate at Xi'An stall, which makes dishes with 'hand pulled" noodles. I had the tangy & Spicy beef noodles soup. Awesome! Feels like you are right in China. I had to point to what I wanted.

Sorry for going off topic.......
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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NutsNGum
Posted: 9 months ago

And they are lucky to have a Japanese judge for this case. Couldn't get any better...


Maybe a Chinese judge.
Rating: 2 Positives / 1 Negatives
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Mattstkc
Posted: 9 months ago
what is it about Flushing that makes it this epic hotbed for fraud? from insurance fraud, to prostitution rings in massage parlors, to fake :apple: Products. Seriously Flushing, clean up your act..
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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CylonGlitch
Posted: 9 months ago
I like the name "Apple Story" thought it to be clever. If they weren't selling knock-offs I'd say, good for them. A store selling accessories for Apple products, great name, great idea. But it does seem like they are selling things that are "Apple" branded even though they aren't. That's crossing the line.

In fact, I think Apple did a good job with handling it. The store removes all counterfeit stuff and the obvious iPhone rip-off display case. The store gets to continue doing business and selling stuff. Maybe they should change the name to "Mac Story" or "Macintosh Story". Overall it seems like it was a fairly good arrangement for everyone. The store got a lot of free advertising as well. :D
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Shrink
Posted: 9 months ago

Ummmm, so what are you trying to say? lol I live in Whitestone, just outside of Flushing and man, they call it "Little Seoul" back in Korea. It does however have the BEST Asian food in all of NYC. I'm a little bummed about Apple Story having to change it's name. Stuff like that is part of what gives Main Street it's character for those of us that have a sense of humor. It's almost as good as the badly translated signs. Ever seen the one the says "Mental Jingles"? It's been 5 years and for the life of me I still don't know what they are. Just precious.


Actually, I grew up in the Bronx ( Sort of "outer borough".) Next time I'm in to visit family (now in Manhattan - the center of the universe) I'll come to your neck of the woods for Asian food. (that is, if I can find my way out there. :D ;))
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives

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